Activation Example

Starting Situation

This example deals with the activation of a specific business process. The process "Paint" is to be activated only for a PC that does not have the standard color. The characteristics Standard , White , Red , Green and Blue are in the material master.

The following data is assumed to be created. The information in parentheses is the IDES data.

  • An environment for production orders (001)

  • A business process "Paint" (business process 300000 Paint)

  • A plant

  • A material (R-4000) for which the following are defined in the material master: the class type, classification characteristics and values (class type 001 material class, characteristic T-COLOR, value 01 = standard, 02 = white, 03 = red, 04 = green, 05 = blue)

  • Function Material Characteristics Value , node: Material

  • Function Material , node: Material

Procedure

Looking Into Material Classification

  1. Choose Start of the navigation path Logistics Next navigation step Materials Management Next navigation step Material Master Next navigation step Material Next navigation step Display Next navigation step Display Current Status End of the navigation path .

  2. Enter the material number R-4000.

  3. Mark the view Classification .

  4. The Class Types screen appears. The Class Types created are displayed.

  5. Double-click on 001 material class .

  6. Appearing next is screen Display material: Classification . Class PC01 with the description Characteristics for PCs and Components is displayed.

    Characteristics and characteristic values of the material are displayed; these are for r-4000 in IDES: number of paint layers 3 and color red .

  7. Double-click on the value red .

  8. The system provides an overview of all created values for characteristic color: 01 = standard, 02 = white, 03 = red, 04 '= green, 05 = blue .

  9. Go back to the Characteristics Valuation screen.

  10. Double-click on Color.

  11. Click on .

Now you can view the internal characteristic name: T-COLOR . You will need this description when you create the template.

For more information on creating material classes, characteristics and characteristic values see: The Classification System and Characteristics.

Results of this Step

You are now familiar with the information which you need to enter the correct formula in the activation column of the template; namely, material class, characteristic and characteristic value.

Entering Activation Requirements in the Template

If you want to view the activation requirements only in IDES, see section "View Activation Requirements in IDES".

  1. Call up the template for editing.

  2. Create a new row, row type Business Process.

  3. Double-click on the Activ. Plan. column. In the Function Selection screen area (below right), all the available functions are displayed (the selection is based on the selected environment and selected row type). The editor (below left) is available for entries.

  4. In the editor, choose an opening parenthesis.

  5. Place the cursor in the function selection on the Material Characteristic Value function and drag the function to the left into the editor (Drag&Drop). This opens the Parameters for Function dialog box.

  6. In the parameter dialog box, enter T-COLOR in the column Parameter Value as a classification characteristic.

  7. In the row Class Type of the Classification , column Value, choose Class Type 001 using F4 .

  8. Click on the third row Material Number and use Drag&Drop to drag the Material function (contains the material that has just been costed) to the row.

  9. Transfer your entries by choosing in the parameter dialog box.

  10. Mark not equal to as Comparison Operator .

  11. In the editor, choose a closing parenthesis.

  12. Enter the fixed value 01 as a second comparison operand (in quotation marks).

  13. In the editor, choose a closing parenthesis.

  14. Choose in the editor to format your entries.

  15. Choose to check the method.

  16. Choose Plan Activation .

Result

The activation condition means: Activate the business process if the material characteristic value of the PC (entered material number) is not equal to the standard color (white, red, green, or blue).

Viewing Activation Requirements in IDES

  1. Call up the template for editing ( T-PROD1 ).

  2. Double-click on column Activ . Plan .

You can see the activation requirement (see above).

Checking and Testing Templates

You are in either screen Create template or Change template . To check the syntax of your entries, choose Template -> Check or .

Follow these steps to test the template:

  1. Choose Start of the navigation path Template Next navigation step Test Plan End of the navigation path or .

  2. Enter test parameters for OrderPlant <Number of Plant> ( 1200) , OrderMaterialNumber <Material Number> ( R-4000) and for OrderTotalQuantity <Quantity of Your Choice> (1) .

  3. Choose .

Template Evaluation

The Evaluation Template screen displays a results structure. If you open the path displayed, you will see the activated business process 300000 in row Object in IDES. The row Plan Activation shows the result as active. In the material master, "red" is saved as the characteristic for material r-4000.

Template Evaluation - Details

To display the details, double-click on the row Activation . You receive the following information:

Formula/Method : you can see the activation requirement entered.

Function list : You see the complete name of the function and all parameters with the entries you made in the activation requirements (T-COLOR, 001; material). The date comes from the Parameters for template testing dialog box . Per. 9 = 03 means that in period 9 the function gives result 3 (= Color Red).

Result : The condition "Result F1 (= 03) is not equal to Color 01" is fulfilled; thus, ACTIVE is set.

Field content : Material number and date stem from the test entry field.